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The Evolution of Canadian Battlefield Burials During the First World War

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The Evolution of Canadian Battlefield Burials During the First World War Western University Scholarship@Western Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository 6-14-2018 1:30 PM Tribute to the Fallen: The Evolution of Canadian Battlefield Burials during the First World War Jeremy P. Garrett The University of Western Ontario Supervisor Vance, Jonathan The University of Western Ontario Graduate Program in History A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the equirr ements for the degree in Doctor of Philosophy © Jeremy P. Garrett 2018 Follow this and additional works at: https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/etd Part of the Canadian History Commons, and the Military History Commons Recommended Citation Garrett, Jeremy P., "Tribute to the Fallen: The Evolution of Canadian Battlefield Burials during the First World War" (2018). Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository. 5501. https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/etd/5501 This Dissertation/Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by Scholarship@Western. It has been accepted for inclusion in Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository by an authorized administrator of Scholarship@Western. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Abstract This dissertation focuses on the burial of Canadian soldiers during the First World War. This study explores the ways in which the body was treated upon death during the early, middle, and late years of the conflict to show the drastically different practices and customs that were implemented and modernized throughout the war. While nineteenth century military burial customs were suitable for religious beliefs at the time, a religious shift among the general populace occurred at the end of the century. Subsequent conflicts showcased the inadequacies of established military practices. While the Boer War demonstrated soldiers’ need to ensure a proper burial, the First World War acted as the catalyst for change in how the military approached burials. Coupled with significant advancements in military equipment and tactics, military authorities were not prepared to deal with the religious need for burial and the number of burials necessary after conflicts. As a result, military and political authorities feared demoralized troops and potential political crises with news of burial inadequacies reaching the home front, which led to a more formalized approach to burials. Whereas military officials explored battlefield policies and practices, political authorities explored ways to maintain the graves of fallen soldiers. This dissertation traces the evolution of military and political thought in this regard. i Key Words British Red Cross Society, Burial, Cemetery, Commonwealth War Graves Commission, Death, Directorate of Graves Registration and Enquiries, Fabian Ware, First World War, Graves Registration Commission, Imperial War Graves Commission ii Acknowledgements There are several people who helped me throughout this entire process and are deserving of thanks. First and foremost, I would like to thank my thesis supervisor, Dr. Jonathan Vance, for his expertise, guidance, and faith in my abilities while I completed this work. I learned a great deal from working with Dr. Vance. I would also like to thank my second reader, Dr. Allyson May, for her constructive input and edits. I would also like to extend my gratitude to the staff at the Commonwealth War Graves Commission Archives, the Library and Archives Canada, and the British National Archives for their assistance in researching this dissertation. I would also like to extend many thanks to my university friends. Specifically, I would like to thank Aaron Boyes and Madeleine Kloske for their inspiration, critiquing, and suggestions. Their support and advice helped me immensely throughout the writing process. I would also like to thank Aaron Boyes for his words of wisdom and encouragement in addition to his editorial help. Further thanks go to Patrick Fournier, Sean Graham, and Andrew Gaiero for their continued friendship, humour, and social outings to help clear my mind. I would also like to thank my family for their support and encouragement throughout this process. It was a long road to finishing this immense work, but it was truly worth it in the end. Your support and encouragement helped me throughout the entire process of writing this dissertation. Finally, I would like to thank my loving wife, Susan Garrett. You were there in whatever capacity I needed – editor, critic, listener, and friend. You could not have been a better companion through this process. iii List of Acronyms AG Adjutant-General BEF British Expeditionary Force BRCS British Red Cross Society CASC Canadian Army Service Corps CEF Canadian Expeditionary Force CO Conscientious Objectors CWGC Commonwealth War Graves Commission CWGD Canadian War Graves Detachment DAAG Deputy Assistant Adjutant-General DAG Deputy Adjutant-General DGR&E Directorate of Graves Registration and Enquiries GHQ General Headquarters GRO General Routine Order GRC Graves Registration Commission GRU Graves Registration Units IWGC Imperial War Graves Commission NCO Non-Commissioned Officers OMFC Overseas Military Force of Canada OR Other Ranks PMG Paymaster General’s Branch PTSD Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder RFC Royal Flying Corps iv Table of Contents Abstract ................................................................................................................................ i Key Words .......................................................................................................................... ii Acknowledgements ............................................................................................................ iii List of Acronyms ............................................................................................................... iv Table of Contents ................................................................................................................ v Introduction: Tribute to the Fallen ...................................................................................... 1 Chapter 1: British Burial Practices during the Nineteenth Century .................................. 25 1.1 The Napoleonic Wars – Early Nineteenth Century Burial and Commemoration Controversies ................................................................................................................ 26 1.2 The Crimean War and Burials ................................................................................ 36 1.3 Memorials to the Crimean War............................................................................... 40 1.4 The Cardwell Military Reforms and British Society .............................................. 44 1.5 The Late Victorian Era – The Zulu Wars and British Burials ................................ 49 1.6 The Boer War – First Attempts at Marking Graves ................................................ 51 1.7 Post-Boer War Burial Process – Practices and Clean-up........................................ 56 1.8 A South African Graves Fund for the Care of Graves and Cemeteries .................. 58 1.9 Post-War Burial Problems ...................................................................................... 65 1.10 The Physical Maintenance of Graves and the End of the Guild of Loyal Women68 1.11 The Emergence of Private Citizen Concern for Soldiers’ Burials in the Twentieth Century .......................................................................................................................... 70 1.12 Conclusion ............................................................................................................ 80 Chapter 2: The First World War and the Uncertainty of Soldier Burials ......................... 83 2.1 Start of the First World War – The Ideal Burial ..................................................... 85 2.2 The Chaotic Front – The Use of Mass and Common Graves ................................. 88 2.3 Entering the Abyss: Initial Problems with Burials in the First World War ............ 92 2.4 Burials During Heavy Fighting and Reporting Heavy Casualties ........................ 101 2.5 Overhauling Burial Practices – The Continual Evolution of Burials During the First World War .................................................................................................................. 104 2.6 Official and Unofficial Cemeteries – Redefining Burials During War ................ 113 2.7 Away from the Front – Military Burials in the United Kingdom ......................... 123 2.8 Burial Identification: How Graves Were Marked by Comrades .......................... 134 2.9 Conclusion ............................................................................................................ 137 Chapter 3: The Psychological Impact of Death and Burial on the Front ........................ 141 v 3.1 After Death – Camaraderie among Soldiers ......................................................... 143 3.2 Death, Burial, and Morale ..................................................................................... 150 3.3 The Need for a ‘Proper’ Burial ............................................................................. 156 3.4 No-Man’s-Land and the Dead .............................................................................. 162 3.5 Civilian Reactions to Cemeteries and Burials ...................................................... 165 3.6 Conclusion ............................................................................................................ 167 Chapter 4: The Organizational Make-Up of Burials During the First World War
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